Federal Minority Governments in Canada - Minority Governments By Term of Office

Minority Governments By Term of Office

Rank Prime Minister Party Parliament Seats (Minority size) Year(s) Duration from return
of writs to dissolution		 Notes
1 William Lyon Mackenzie King Liberal 14th 116 of 235
(2 short)		 1921–1925 70003000000000000003 years, 7002233000000000000233 days
2 Stephen Harper Conservative 39th 124 of 308
(30 short)		 2006–2008 2 years, 207 days
3 Stephen Harper Conservative 40th 143 of 308
(12 short)		 2008–2011 2 years, 142 days
4 Lester B. Pearson Liberal 27th 131 of 265
(2 short)		 1965–1968 2 years, 135 days
5 Lester B. Pearson Liberal 26th 129 of 265
(4 short)		 1963–1965 2 years, 123 days
6 Pierre Trudeau Liberal 29th 109 of 264
(23 short)		 1972–1974 1 year, 170 days
7 Paul Martin Liberal 38th 135 of 308
(19 short)		 2004–2006 1 year, 133 days
8 William Lyon Mackenzie King Liberal 15th 99 of 245
(24 short)		 1925–1926 204 days
9 John Diefenbaker Progressive Conservative 25th 116 of 265
(17 short)		 1962–1963 203 days
10 Joe Clark Progressive Conservative 31st 136 of 282
(5 short)		 1979–1980 186 days
11 John Diefenbaker Progressive Conservative 23rd 112 of 265
(21 short)		 1957–1958 177 days
12 Alexander Mackenzie Liberal 2nd 95 of 200
(5 short)		 1873–1874 56 days
13 Arthur Meighen Conservative (1867) 15th 115 of 245
(8 short)		 1926 3 days

Read more about this topic:  Federal Minority Governments In Canada

Famous quotes containing the words minority, governments, term and/or office:

    “A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “Government is at best but an expedient; but most governments are usually, and all governments are sometimes, inexpedient. The objections which have been brought against a standing army, and they are many and weighty, and deserve to prevail, may also at last be brought against a standing government.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “A radical is one of whom people say “He goes too far.” A conservative, on the other hand, is one who “doesn’t go far enough.” Then there is the reactionary, “one who doesn’t go at all.” All these terms are more or less objectionable, wherefore we have coined the term “progressive.” I should say that a progressive is one who insists upon recognizing new facts as they present themselves—one who adjusts legislation to these new facts.”
    —Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)

    “The dissident does not operate in the realm of genuine power at all. He is not seeking power. He has no desire for office and does not gather votes. He does not attempt to charm the public, he offers nothing and promises nothing. He can offer, if anything, only his own skin—and he offers it solely because he has no other way of affirming the truth he stands for. His actions simply articulate his dignity as a citizen, regardless of the cost.”
    —Václav Havel (b. 1936)